The Mormon Apocrypha

I usually won't publish talks created so recently, but I felt I had to post this one. Delivered in the October 2020 General Conference, it is one of the most well-known talks of President Russell M. Nelson, discussing the importance of letting God prevail in our lives. I highlighted a particular section that resonated with me personally. My dear brothers and sisters, how grateful I am for the marvelous messages of this conference and for my privilege to speak with you now. For the more than 36 years I’ve been an Apostle, the doctrine of the gathering of Israel has captured my attention. Everything about it has intrigued me, including the ministries and names of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; their lives and their wives; the covenant God made with them and extended through their lineage; the dispersion of the twelve tribes; and the numerous prophecies about the gathering in our day. I have studied the gathering, prayed about it, feasted upon every related scripture, and asked the Lord ...

While this talk might not be one of the most historically important general conferences in church history, it is one of my favorites. Delivered by Chieko N. Okazaki in the April 1996 general conference, its message is that of how the diversity of the church body does not mean we cannot be united. It is a rather short talk, with little fat to distract from its important message. We are all one in Christ My dear brothers and sisters, aloha! In February I rejoiced with you when the number of members outside the United States edged ever so slightly past the number of members inside the United States. That slight shift is an important symbol of the international nature of the Church. I thought of Paul's statement to the Galatians: " There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus " (Galatians 3:28). This week I celebrate the 54th anniversary of my baptism. People like me who are converts know ...

A Video from This Saint's Theory  One of the most potent general conferences I have ever read was "Beware of Pride" by Ezra Taft Benson, delivered in the April 1989 general conference. It is a dissection of what Pride is, why it is problematic, why we should choose to be humble, using passages from the Bible, Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and even Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis to emphasize these points. Beware of Pride President Hinckley We are grateful for President Benson's presence. He honors us. We love him, as we know he loves us. I shall now read the message which he has prepared for the opening of this conference. President Benson My beloved brethren and sisters, I rejoice to be with you in another glorious general conference of the Church. How grateful I am for the love, prayers, and service of the devoted members of the Church throughout the world. May I commend you faithful Saints who are striving to flood the earth and your lives with the Bo...

The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of the Mormon faith. But the book's importance has not always been stressed. In April of 1986, a sermon that emphasized its significance as delivered by Ezra Taft Benson. It highlighted its importance in the modern day and what it can do for our everyday lives. The Book of Mormon: A gift from the Lord My beloved brethren and sisters, today I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon, given to mankind 156 years ago. This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years, then hidden up by H...

Above is a recording of the first General Conference ever filmed. This talk was given in October 1949 by George Albert Smith. Below is a transcript of the Conference Talk as well. One thing I admire about this talk is the tone of how it was delivered. The way Smith delivers the sermon is a way someone talks to a friend, with a relaxed style of speaking whether he is talking about the tabernacle building or inviting others to "Come and See."                                       President George Albert Smith The use of the radio has made it desirable to make some announcements that we did not need to make when everybody who came into the building could see and hear. Not only is this building now filled to capacity, but there are also thousands of people listening in on the outside. Many are witnessing what you are this morning by television. A Wonderful Age We live in a won...